Even Curiouser
We reflected on the rumour that Cllr Lewis Godfrey was suspended from the Labour Party. This seemed to be a bit odd, as he had only just been cleared of wrongdoing by the standards committee.
One Budget Area Reprieved. No Cuts Here.
We discovered that amongst hundreds of pages of reports, there was one area where Newham were unable to make any savings. Nor did they think that they would be able to make any in the future.
More Bad News for the By-elections
The impact of Reform is unlikely to be large in Newham. However, the growing distance between Labour and its former supporters in the white working class might be beginning to work to Reform’s benefit nationally.
Revolving Door at the Top
We previously reported that Newham seemed to be going through Chief Executives at an alarming rate
In the six years since Ms Fiaz became mayor, there have been five Chief Execs. And, breaking news, we might soon have a sixth.
A Different Sort of Housing Crisis
Much of the work of local government is subject to regulation and inspection. Their work is often rather boring to the outsider. Has the council met a particular standard in this or that area? Are they, in the judgement of their peers well run and financially viable.
A New Official Opposition Party????
We learn that Mayor Fiaz is endeavouring to have three miscreants suspended from the Labour Group. You will recall that Cllrs Kamali, Chadha and Masters all abstained on a vote against a Green motion.
Curiouser and Curiouser
The metaphorical vultures are reported to be hovering around the head of Cllr Lewis Godfrey. We are told that a well-known member of Green St West branch is already campaigning to be adopted as the candidate when Godfrey goes.
This is where it gets bizarre.
Cleared AND Suspended!?
The political career of Cllr Lewis Godfrey continues to involve some twists and turns.
“The Gateway of Farnborough …full of homeless people from East London”
Bless them. GB News have revealed Newham Council’s latest wheeze to cut down on the homelessness figures.
Another (Deputy) Cabinet Resignation
You know that you are living in a Alice-in-Wonderland state, when the same set of council papers both announce that there is a shortfall in the council finances that will require £175m in cuts and sell-offs, and you get motions demanding the additional expenditure of millions of pounds.
A Labour Determined to Make Themselves Unpopular?
Just months after gaining a massive electoral victory, (securing 411 seats, with 20% of the nation’s voters), Labour’s popularity appears to be shrinking; down to 4% in early September according to More in Common.
An Honorable Mention amongst Landlords for Labour
It does seem that Cllr Thelma Odoi has not fully completed her disclosure to the monitoring officer. Her address is withheld, which seems to be the common practice now. However, we understand her to be a tenant of a council property. She may of course have purchased this.
Newham Oxbridge Admissions Continue to Impress
The Spectator provided a list of admission numbers to Oxbridge Colleges for the top 80 schools in the country. Three of those 80 are in Newham. There is no other borough in the country that has results that compare with Newham.
The Problems along the Romford Road Continue.
Photos from The Recorder report.
The ON report on prostitution and the mayor’s (lack of) response generated some heated correspondence. It is clear that residents, particularly those in Townley Court are not as sanguine about the issue as our political leaders seem to be.
A Reader Informs Us…
A reader has kindly written to let us know that there should be a number of additions to the Landlords for Labour table. We are pleased to provide an update.
Oh Dear. This is Embarrassing.
As we have noted, building a property portfolio has been popular amongst Labour councillors.
Returning to a Familiar Subject
We make no apologies for returning to this subject. The fate of Canning Town Library is symptomatic of the malaise at the heart of the current administration.
More on Prostitution along the Romford Road
The Order, pictured above, is what Newham officers recommended to curb prostitution along the Romford Road. It might be what residents demanded, but it is not what the mayor wanted.
News of Fiaz’s Alleged Bullying Spreads
We learn that Private Eye has become aware that not everything is lovely in the Newham garden.
Outstanding Results from Two Newham Sixth Forms. Mayor Silent.
Readers might wonder why it is that the mayor hasn’t congratulated the London Academy of Excellence and Newham Sixth Form Collegiate. The Times has published the table above which shows that The Collegiate, based on the East Ham Town Hall campus, has achieved outstanding results in ‘A’ Levels with 91.7% achieving A*-B passes. The Academy of Excellence did even better, achieving 92.1%.